iPhone X vs. iPhone 8 Plus photo samples

See how photos from the Apple iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus compare.

Lexy Savvides

Lexy is an on-air presenter and award-winning producer who covers consumer tech, including the latest smartphones, wearables and emerging trends like assistive robotics. She's won two Gold Telly Awards for her video series Beta Test. Prior to her career at CNET, she was a magazine editor, radio announcer and DJ. Lexy is based in San Francisco.

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Vanessa Hand Orellana CNET Senior Editor

As head of wearables at CNET, Vanessa reviews and writes about the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers. She joined the team seven years ago as an on-camera reporter for CNET's Spanish-language site and then moved on to the English side to host and produce some of CNET's videos and YouTube series. When she's not testing out smartwatches or dropping phones, you can catch her on a hike or trail run with her family.

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Lexy Savvides

Vanessa Hand Orellana

Nov. 5, 2017 5:00 a.m. PT

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Colored walls

Artworks on the walls in Chinatown alleyways provide a vibrant backdrop for portraits. All these photos are straight from the camera, taken on default settings. Exposure details have been added where relevant. This image was shot on the iPhone X.

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Emperor Norton I

We came across Emperor Norton I roaming around Chinatown in San Francisco. Shot on iPhone X.

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Emperor Norton I

The same shot from the iPhone 8 Plus.

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Dragon colored wall

Another mural presents a colorful backdrop for portraits, this time with some more distance between the subject and the background. Shot on iPhone X.

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Vanessa (iPhone X)

Compare the image on this page with the next photo to see how similar portraits from both phones can be in good lighting. Shot on iPhone X.

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Vanessa (iPhone 8 Plus)

The same image taken on the 8 Plus.

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Elsa

Who needs the lighting effects in portrait mode when you can use the real sun? Shot on iPhone X.

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Celso

The front-facing TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X can create the portrait mode for selfies. It's a pleasing effect.

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Dual selfie portrait mode

Another selfie from the iPhone X using portrait mode on the front-facing camera.

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Portrait mode on objects

The X doesn't always get it right for blurring out the background on objects other than people.

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Multiple subjects

Both phones did a good job of detecting multiple subjects in the frame and blurring the background appropriately. Shot on iPhone X.

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Low light portrait mode X

Compare this shot (from the iPhone X) with the next slide. No flash, portrait mode and some very low light. Exposure: f/2.4, 1/30, ISO 500.

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Low light portrait mode 8 Plus

This is the same photo taken on the iPhone 8 Plus. Notice the difference in exposure and how the 8 Plus' photo looks more muddy and has more noise. Exposure: f/2.8, 1/60, ISO 1250.